In the Neighbourhood of Salisbury. 293 



he trapped were in 1872. Mr. Baker says they are not unfrequently 

 to be met with on Mere Downs^ and thought most likely that they 

 occasionally bred there. He once asked a bird-catcher in the autumn 

 to secure a pair for him^ and he brought them to him the very next 

 day, and this was in the early autumn of 1870, so that it impressed 

 him at the time with the idea that they might possibly have bred 

 somewhere near. But they generally choose far more northern 

 breeding -places. 



Linaria Minor. " The Redpole.'" This bird also, like the pre- 

 ceding species, is a bird more commonly met with farther north, but 

 it occasionally visits us in small flocks, and is certainly commoner 

 than the Twite amongst us, and is more likely to be met with as 

 occasionally breeding with us. King, of Warminster, assures me 

 that he knows of several instances of their having done so, but he 

 did not give me further particulars about it. Mr. Baker says they 

 are to be found in small flocks on the Mere Downs, both in summer 

 and winter. That they do sometimes breed in the south is sub- 

 stantiated by Meyer who mentions a couple of nests of this species, 

 which were taken in Shanklin Chine, on May 17 th, 1843. 



I/inaria Borealis. "The Mealy Redpole." Concerning this 

 species I cannot say much. Mr. Baker has a specimen in his 

 collection, which certainly bears a strong resemblance to this variety 

 in its plumage, though in size it corresponds with Linaria Minor. 

 In the neighbouring county of Somerset there was a very nice 

 specimen caught by some boys imder the eaves of a barley rick, one 

 very cold winter's evening some years back. This came into a Mr. 

 Gatcombe's possession, of North Petherton. He not knowing what 

 it was, asked my brother about it, and on going over with him to 

 inspect it, there was no doubt about the bird's being a Mealy Red- 

 pole, and a very good specimen. I have not, however, heard of or 

 seen one since myself, although Hart tells me that they are oc- 

 casionally to be obtained in the Christchurch district, the bird- 

 catchers there knowing them well, and not considering them any 

 veri/ great rarities. 



Coccothraustes Vulgaris. " The Hawfinch." This is a bird that, 

 though at one time looked upon rather as a rarity, is certainly be- 



